[Chris Saper]

Dear Mai,

I realize this image is for underpainting purposes, and I think you have successfully dealt with the pointed pillow.

Composition is driven at least as much (and often more) by the manner is which the values are distributed. Have you done any thumbnails to indicate where your darks, middles and lights will be? The dress and background all seem to be similarly middle-light values, with just one small island of darks.

I am not a glaze painter, so I have no experience here, and I realize that you may be staying purposefully lighter at this stage. Still, I think that it is worthwhile to do your 3-value massing thumbnails, based onhow you see the final piece to be painted.

Good luck!